14 Facts About ABC Learning

1.

ABC Learning was an Australian company that was once the world's largest provider of early childhood education services.

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2.

ABC Learning went into voluntary liquidation in 2008 and was bought by Goodstart Early Learning in December 2009.

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3.

ABC Developmental Learning Centres was founded in 1988 in Ashgrove, Queensland.

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4.

In 2005, ABC purchased the third largest childcare operator in the United States, Learning Care Group, which itself operated 467 centres in the US and other educational facilities in south-east Asia.

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5.

In March 2006, ABC Learning announced a bid for Kids Campus, one of its few remaining large competitors in Australia, which would give it over another 100 centres.

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6.

On 12 December 2006, it was announced that ABC Learning would acquire the second largest child care provider in the United States, Chicago based La Petite Academy for 330 million US dollars as well as the 5th largest provider in the United Kingdom, Busy Bees Group, Ltd.

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7.

ABC Learning expanded aggressively into the outsourcing of child care services, negotiating deals with some of Australia's largest employers including the Australian Department of Defence which involved taking over the Department's nineteen childcare facilities.

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8.

ABC Developmental Learning Centres were the major sponsor of the Adelaide 36ers and once owned the Brisbane Bullets in the Australian National Basketball League.

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9.

In March 2008, ABC Learning announced it would sell 60 percent of its American child care business to Morgan Stanley, using the proceeds to pay off accumulated debt.

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10.

ABC Learning was voluntarily liquidated in 2008 and was acquired by GoodStart Childcare in December 2009.

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11.

Re-branded as "Goodstart Early ABC Learning", the organisation is a registered charity owned by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Mission Australia, The Benevolent Society and Social Ventures Australia.

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12.

Critics of ABC Learning said it was making considerable profits at the expense of Australian taxpayers whose money subsidised the use of childcare with means-tested tax rebates.

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13.

ABC Learning used its considerable financial resources to support challenges to regulations governing childcare and enforcing vicarious liability on the company.

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14.

ABC Learning was once the largest publicly listed child-care operator in the world.

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